The A-Z of planting maize

In addition to the Old Longe maize series, two new types of yellow maize (Vitamo 40 and 50) and another three white maize varieties that are drought-tolerant, including SC301, SC513 and SC403 varieties, were released last year for specialised markets such as the animal feed industry.

Others include VP-max, Bazooka, plus the old varieties like Longe10H, Wanak, Kayongo-Go and Longe5 (Nalongo).

Victoria Seeds promotes varieties such as Yara 41,42, We2106, Longe 4 (OPV), Victoria 2, while FICA Seeds has varieties including Hybrid 6H and 2H, the Open Pollinated Variety (OPV) 5.  These are in addition to the DK varieties.

Planting maize

Land for growing maize should be prepared in advance and fertilisers applied in order to enable them to be absorbed in the soil before the planting and to make sure that a farmer plants immediately the rains start.

In Uganda, most farmers use the hand hoe to prepare the farm, while others use the Ox-plough, walking tractors and big tractors. The hand hoe is slow and less effective and not ideal for commercial maize farmers.

The Ox-plough is okay, however, it is not as effective as the tractors because they do not only open up larger parts of land, but also dig deeper into  the fertile soils.

Prepare holes at a spacing of 75cmx60cm. Apply farmyard manure if you have it or inorganic fertilisers such as DAP or NPK at a rate of 50kg per acre.

A 50kg bag of DAP costs between sh150,000 and sh180,000.

Apply one full soda bottle cap in each hole and cover. DAP/NPK helps in root formation and improving yields.

You need 10kg for each acre.

With a kilogramme of hybrids such as Longe10H going for sh9,000, this means you spend sh90,000 on seeds for each acre.

Carry out the first weeding two weeks after planting. After three weeks, top dress with UREA/CAN, at 50kg per acre.

Spread the fertiliser within the rows of the crops. UREA, which contains nitrogen, increases crop health and yields.

After 120 days, most varieties are now ready for harvesting if one is eating it fresh. To further dry it on the farm, you need another 20 days.

To get good quality grain, harvest the maize and store it in a proper storage facility that is hoisted by at least a foot off the ground.

There are also cereal storage bags on the market.

Maize growing tips got from NaCRRI